Does Duluth have lead in the water?

Lead gets into water through old service line pipes, not from the treatment plant. The City of Duluth is still inventorying which homes have lead lines. Get your water tested to know your own home's status.

How do I know if I have a lead service line?

Call the City of Duluth Water Department with your address. They can tell you what type of pipe serves your home. Older homes (pre-1990) are more likely to have lead lines.

Is Duluth tap water safe to drink?

Duluth's treated water meets federal safety standards. The risk comes from old pipes in your home or building. A water test at your tap will tell you if lead is present.

What should I do if my child was exposed to lead in water?

Contact your pediatrician or your doctor. They may recommend a blood lead level test. The CDC has resources on lead exposure risks for children.

Lead Service Lines in Duluth, MN

What You Need to Know

Duluth's water system serves about 92,800 people through 76 separate water systems. The city's main utility, the City of Duluth Water Department, supplies roughly 86,900 residents.

Lead enters drinking water primarily through lead service lines—the pipes connecting your home to the main water line under the street. These lines were commonly installed before the 1980s, when lead's health risks became widely understood. If your home was built before 1990, there's a higher chance you have one.

Current Inventory Status

Minnesota requires water utilities to inventory lead and galvanized service lines. However, many utilities in Duluth have not yet publicly reported their findings. This doesn't mean there's no lead in your area—it means data collection and disclosure is still underway.

The City of Duluth Water Department, which serves the majority of residents, has not yet published a complete service line inventory. Other systems serving smaller populations (Rice Lake, school facilities, and private businesses) also have limited public data available.

What This Means for Your Home

Not knowing the exact count of lead lines in your area doesn't change what you should do:

If your home was built before 1990, assume you may have a lead service line until proven otherwise.
Get your water tested at the tap where you most often drink or cook. A simple test costs $10–$30 and takes a few days.
Use cold water for drinking and cooking, since hot water leaches more lead from pipes.
Let water run for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using it, especially if the pipes haven't been used in several hours.

Lead exposure poses real health risks, particularly for young children and pregnant people. For medical concerns, contact your pediatrician or the CDC.

Next Steps for Residents

Contact the City of Duluth Water Department at (218) 730-4190 or check their website to ask about your home's service line type and request a test.
Get your water tested through a certified lab; Duluth Public Health can recommend options.
Ask your utility for information on any lead service line replacement programs or financial assistance.
If renting, notify your landlord and request testing; they're responsible for maintaining the property's water system.

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Lead service lines in Duluth, MN